Spring assembly



' Dec. 20, 1966 A. BlELAK 3,292,920

SPRING ASSEMBLY I Filed Oct. 11, 1965 I :5 Shecs-Sheet 1 1 32 15 Z INVENTOR' FRANK A.- B3ELAK ATTORNEY 5 F. A. BIELAK SPRING ASSEMBLY Dec. 20, 1966 :5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 11, 1965 INVENTOR FRANK A. BIELAK BY I WW4 ATTORNEYS Dec. 20, 1966 F. A. BIELAK I 3,292,920

SPRING ASSEMBLY Filed Oct. 11, 1965- 5 Sheetsheet 3 FRANK A.BIELAK ATTORNEYS TIG 7 MENTOR United States Patent 3,292,920 SPRING ASSEMBLY Frank A. Bielak, Georgetown, Ky., assignmto Hoover Ball and Bearing Company, Saline, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Filed Oct. 11, 1965, Ser. No. 494,323 13 Claims. (Cl. 267-107) This invention relates generally to spring structures for seats and more particularly to a spring assembly which is an improvement on the assembly shown in US. Patent No. 2,480,667.

United States Patent No. 2,480,667, assigned to the assignee of this application, shows a wire spring assembly, of the type to which this invention relates, installed in a seat back. This type of spring assembly has proven to be advantageous because it is free of stiffness in localized areas and readily yields to loads when in use. When installed in a seat back, such an assembly comprises a plurality of upright face springs attached at their lower ends to a lower support rail, a support spring for each face spring mounted on an upper frame rail, and a border wire which is attached to at least the upper ends of the face springs. Usually, spring clips are utilized to attach each face spring at two points to its support spring and to attach the border wire to the face springs. In order to improve the spring assembly shown in Patent No. 2,480,- 667, it is desirable to provide for an assembly of the support springs with the face springs which does not require the use of attaching spring clips. It is also desirable to provide a support spring which will support more than one face spring, and to provide a face spring structure which enables the formation of more than one face spring from a single length of wire. With these improvements, the cost of the end product, namely, the seating structure, is reduced while maintaining the same or an improved seating comfort, since the costs of fabrication and assembly are reduced. It is an object of this invention, therefore, to provide an improved seat spring assembly which incorporates the same desirable seating characteristics as the spring assembly shown in Patent No. 2,480,667, which provides for an assembly of a single support spring with a pair of face springs, without requiring spring clips or other attaching means, provides for the formation of a pair of face springs from a single length of wire, and is economical to fabricate and assemble.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved spring assembly for seating structures in which a single length of zigzag wire is return-folded upon itself to form a pair of face springs which extend in generally the same direction and are bridged by a connecting section shaped to facilitate the attachment of a border wire thereto.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a seat spring assembly in which a pair of face springs are formed from a single length of spring wire shaped to form a border wire section at one end of the face springs and shaped for attachment Without the use of spring clips or other additional attaching means to a single support spring.

Further objects, features and advantages of this invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following description, the appended claims, and the accompanying drawing in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side view of the improved spring assembly of this invention, illustrated in a position mounted on the top and bottom frame rails in a seating structure, such as an upholstered chair, and illustrating the assembly in a trim position, namely, a partially loaded position due to the trim on the chair;

FIGURE 2 is a rear view of the spring assembly shown in FIG. 1;

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FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary rear view, like FIG. 2, of a modified form of the spring assembly of this invention;

FIGURE 4 is a side View, like FIG. 1, showing the spring assembly of FIG. 3, mounted on upper and lower frame rails and illustrating an additional support spring assembled with the face springs shown in FIG. 3 and an additional support rail to illustrate how a larger number of support springs of this invention can 'be utilized to provide additional seating support;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary rear View, illustrated similarly to FIGS. 2 and 3, showing another modified form of the spring assembly of this invention;

FIGURE 6 is a side View, similar to FIG. 1, showing still another form of the spring assembly of this invention;

FIGURE 7 is a rear view of the spring assembly shown in FIG. 6; and

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the modified spring assembly of FIGS. 6 and 7 lookin g substantially along the line 88 in FIG. 7.

With reference to the drawing, the spring assembly of this invention, indicated generally at 10, is illustrated in FIG. I mounted on the upper and lower frame rails 12 and 14, respectively, of an upholstered seat structure such as is illustrated in Patent No. 2,480,667, so that the assembly 10 forms a part of the seat back spring structure, although it is to be understood that the assembly 10 is also usable in the seating portion of a seat structure. The assembly 10 consists of a pair of face springs 16 formed of zigzag wire and a support spring 18 which is assembled at one end with the face springs 16 and at the opposite end is mounted on the frame rail 12.

As shown in FIG. 2, the face springs 16 are formed from a single length of spring wire which is bent so that it is of the illustrated sinuous shape having longitudinally spaced parallel torsion bars 15 connected by curved wire portions 17. The torsion bars 15 and connecting wire portions 17 provide the springs 16 with a plurality of substantially U-shaped transversely extending projections, such as the ones indicated at 20 which extend away from each other and adjacent projections 22 which extend toward each other, with adjacent projections 20 and 22 in each spring 16 having common torsion bars 15. The wire forming the face springs 16 is return-folded upon itself so that the face springs 16 extend in generally the same direction but are not parallel, as shown in FIG. 2. In saying that the face springs 16 are not parallel, it is meant that alternate projections 20 extend away from each other, with the inbetween projections 22 extending toward each other. An intermediate projection 24 in the length of Wire from which the face springs 16 are formed by return-folding, constitutes a connecting section integral with and extending between the face springs 16. The connecting section 24 is re-shaped so that it has a generally straight portion 26 to facilitate mounting of a border wire 28 on the assembly 10 by means of a spring Clip 30. Both ends of the wire from which the face springs 16 are formed are shaped to form mounting sections or prongs 32 which are inserted in openings 34 in the lower frame rail 14 so as to prong the lower ends of the face springs 16 which can be attached to rail 14 by staples (not shown) if desired.

The support spring 18 is likewise formed from a single piece of wire which is bent so that its end portions 36 are straight and are positioned side-by-side for forming mounting sections or prongs which are inserted in an opening 38 in the upper frame rail 12 when the assembly 10 is mounted on a seating structure frame. A central portion of the wire from which the support spring 18 is formed is bent to form a loop 40, which, as shown in FIG. 2, is an incomplete loop, namely, not continuous because it is not fully closed on one side although it 3 can be if desired. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the loop 40 is generally rectangular, having a pair of long sides 42 and 44 which are substantially parallel to each other and a pair of shorter sides 46 and 48which are also generally parallel to each other. The corners 50 of the loop 40 are bent so that the shorter loop sides 46 and 48 are in a plane offset from the plane of the loop sides 42 and 44. In other words, the longer loop sides 42 and 44 are substantially coplanar, meaning that a single plane can be positioned so that it contains both the sides 42 and 44, and the sides 46 and 48 are also coplanar, being disposed in a plane which is parallel to but spaced from the plane which contains the sides 42 and 44. The space between these planes is substantially equal to the diameter thickness of the Wire in the face springs 16.

As shown in FIG. 1, the support spring 18 has a pair of legs 52 and 54, which, when the spring assembly is used in a seat back structure, diverge in an upward direction in the shape of a V having an apex 56 spaced rearwardly of the face springs 16. The leg 52 is angularly offset from the loop 40 and is formed by a pair of substantially parallel spaced portions 58 of the single length of wire from which the support spring 18 is formed. The leg 54 is likewise formed by a pair of substantially straight parallel portions 60 of the single piece of wire from which the support spring 18 is formed. Connecting wire portions 62 extend the wire portions 58 and 60 and form the apex 56, and connecting wire portions 64 extend between the Wire portions 60 which form the leg 54 and the prongs 36. It can thus be seen that the loop 40 and the prongs 36 form the ends of the spring 18, the intermediate portion of which is formed by the legs 52 and 54. The loop 40 constitutes an angularly offset end portion of the leg 52.

In the assembly of the face springs 16 on the support spring 18, the face springs 16 are moved toward each other to reduce the spacing between the projections 20, and a pair of projections 20 which are opposite each other in the two face springs 16 are then extended through the loop 40 in opposite directions. It is to be understood that if desired the loop 40 can be made larger so that a plurality of projections 20 can be extended in opposite directions therethrough instead of the single projections 20 shown. When the length of wire from which the face springs 16 are formed is initially returnfolded upon itself to form the two face springs 16, the fold is incomplete, namely, such that when no restraining forces are exerted on the face springs 16 they diverge in a direction toward the prongs 32. The size of the loop 40 is such that when the face spring projections. 20 are extended through the loop 40, and the face springs 16 are moved as far apart as possible until they engage the corners 50 of the loop 40, the longitudinal axes of face springs 16 are substantially parallel. The incomplete folding of the face springs 16 imparts to the springs 16 a tendency to spring apart in the direction of the arrows 66 in FIG. 2. As a result, the springs 16 will be urged by built-in stress in the connecting section 24 into tight engagement with the loop 40.

As best appears in FIG. 2, when the face springs 16 are in tight engagement with the loop 40, they are clamped between opposite sides of the loop by virtue of the planar offsetting of the loop sides 46 and 48 from the loop sides 42 and 44 a distance substantially equal to the diameter or thickness of the wire from which the face springs 16 are formed. As a result, in the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the loop sides 42 and 44 engage the rear sides of the face springs 16, and the front sides of the face springs 16 are engaged by the loop sides 46 and 48. Consequently, each face spring 16 is clamped at two longitudinal spaced points between spaced sections of the loop 40. The angular offset of the loop 40 from the spring leg 52 locates the apex 56 rearwardly of the face springs 16 when the face springs 16 are clamped to support spring 18. It is this clamping of each face spring 16 at longitudinally spaced points along its length to the support spring 18, and the V-shape arrangement of the support springs legs 52 and 54 with apex 56 spaced rearwardly of face springs 16 which provides a spring assembly 10 that is free of stiffness in localized areas and readily yields to loads when loaded so as to move the leg 52 toward the leg 54.

It can thus be seen that in the spring assembly 10, the support spring 18 can readily be assembled with the face springs 16 at the point of manufacture of the seating structure so as to accomplish a rigid coupling of longitudinally spaced portions of each face spring 16 to the supporting spring 18. When the face springs .16 are of the sinuous shape illustrated in FIG. 2, the point of attachment of the face springs 16 to the support spring 18 can be varied by the seating structure manufacturer to accomplish a specific objective, since the loop 40 can be coupled to any pair or group of projections 20.

In FIG. 3, a modified form of the spring assembly of this invention is illustrated and indicated generally at 10a, and in FIG. 4, the modified spring assembly 10a is shown mounted on frame rails 12 and 14. The spring assembly 10a is identical in many respects to the assembly 10 described above, and like numerals are therefore used on the assemblies 10 and 10a to indicate like parts, the assembly 10 differing from the assembly only in the shape of the support spring 18a. The leg 52 in the spring 18a. is integral with the top side of the loop 40 instead of the bottom side as in the spring 18. In the support spring 18a, the Wire portions 58 which form the leg 52 are formed integral with the side 42 of the loop 40 instead of the side 44 as in the spring 18. The face springs 16 and the support spring 18a are assembled, in the assembly 10a, in the same manner that the corresponding springs are assembled in the assembly 10. 'In each particular seating structure the use of a spring 18 or 18a is determined by the seating structure shape and the desired seating characteristics.

In FIG. 4, an additional support spring 18 is shown assembled with a lower portion of the face springs 16 and mounted on an additional frame rail 70 for the purpose of illustrating that if desired for a particular seating structure, more than one support spring 18 or 18a can be assembled with each pair of face springs 16.

In FIG. 5, another modified form of the spring assembly of this invention is illustrated and indicated generally at 10b. In the assembly 10b, a support spring likeeither of the support springs 18 or 18a previously described is used, a support spring 18 being illustrated so that detailed description thereof is believed to be unnecessary. The face springs 16b in the assembly 10b differ from the face springs 16 in the assembly 10 principally in the shape and function of the connecting section 24b which extends between the face springs 16b and which is formed from the center portion of the single piece of wire which is bent to form the face springs 16b. In the assembly 10b, the connecting section 24b is shaped so that it includes a substantially straight elongated portion 72 which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of the face springs 16b, and short straight portions 74 which are perpendicular to the portion 72 and extend toward the face springs 16b. As will more clearly appear hereinafter, the portion 72 of the connecting section 24b is of a length greater than the combined widths of the face springs 16b and constitutes a portion of a sectionalized border wire which is formed by connecting the connecting sections 24b in adjacent assemblies 10b by means of spring clips 76 extended about overlapped portions 74 of adjacent connecting sections 24b. The face springs 16b are illustrated as being in the shape of the well known formed wire,v

as contrasted with the sinuous wire face springs 16 in the assembly 10, having straight parallel torsion bars 75 connected by connecting wire portions 77 of varying,

lengths. As used herein, the term zigzag wire or zigzag wire springs is inclusive of both sinuous wire or sinuous wire springs, and formed wire springs.

In any event, in all embodiments of the invention, the shape of the face springs 16 and 16b at all locations other than the point of attachment of the face springs to the support spring 18 is immaterial unless flexibility in choice of location of point of attachment is desired. At the point of attachment of the face springs to the support spring, it is only necessary that the face springs have oppositely extending protrusions, such as the projections 20 shown in FIG. 2 and the similarly shaped projections 78 illustrated in FIG. 5, which are extended through the loop 40 formed in the support spring 18, such that when the spring 16 or 16band the loop 40 are firmly clampingly engaged, the face spring 16 or 16b are positioned so that their longitudinal axes are substantially parallel. The projections 20 are more curved than the projections 78, but this is immaterial to the desired clamping engagement of the face springs with the support spring loop 40.

The term protrusion is used herein in connection with the definitions of the face springs to be inclusive of one or more projections 20 or 78 since it is clear that it is a matter of choice as to whether the support spring loop 40 engages the torsion bar 15 or 75 in the same or different projections 20 or 78, respectively. This is apparent from the following description of the modified form of the invention shown in FIGS. 68.

The spring assembly 100 shown in FIGS. 68 includes a pair of integral face springs 16 identical to the one shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and a support spring 80 which may require less wire for manufacture than the support spring 18 depending on the size of the face spring engaging loop formed in the support spring. As shown in FIG. 6, the support spring 80 is similar to the support spring 18 in that it includes a pair of diverging legs 82 and 84 arranged in the shape of a V having its apex 86 spaced rearwardly of the face springs 16. The leg 84 terminates in a prong 88 which is inserted into the upper frame rail 12, and the leg 82 has an angularly offset end portion 90 which constitutes the loop in the spring 80 corresponding to the loop 40 in the spring 18.

The spring 80 is formed from a single length of wire bent to form one or more torsion bars 92 in the leg 84, and a torsion bar 94 located at the apex 86. The loop 90 is generally rectangular and, as previously pointed out, can be made in various sizes. The loop 90 has a first pair of parallel sides 96 which are offset from a second pair of parallel sides 98 a distance approximately equal to the diameter of the wire in the face springs 16.

The prong 88 constitutes one end of the wire from which the support spring 80 is formed, and the opposite end of the wire is formed into a book 100 shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. The wire is bent so that the leg 82 joins with one side 98 of the loop 90 intermediate the ends of the side 90 so that leg 82 is inbetween the face springs 16. A straight end portion 102 of the wire from which spring 80 is formed constitutes the remainder of the loop side 98 and terminates in the hook 100. The loop 90 is formed by engaging the hook 100 with the spring leg 82 adjacent its juncture with the loop side 98, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.

In the assembly of the springs 16, 80 three face spring projections 20 and 22 on each spring 16 constitute a protrusion and are extended through the loop 90 so that the protrusions extend in opposite directions through the loop 90. Longitudinally spaced portions of each face spring 16 in the assembly c are thus effectively clamped, at the corners of the loop 90, to the support spring 80, the same as in the assembly 10. During assembly the hook 100 can be temporarily disengaged from leg 82 if desired.

From the above description it is seen that this invention provides spring assemblies 10, 10a, 10b and 100 in which a pair of face springs are connected to a single support spring. Each pair of face springs is formed from a single length of wire and each support spring is likewise formed from a single piece of wire. The face and support springs can be shipped independently and assembled by the furniture manufacturer, in the manner described above, so that each face spring is rigidly coupled at longitudinally spaced points to the support spring. The spring assemblies of this invention are particularly advantageous from the standpoint of ease of assembly and flexibility of spring design at the point of assembly, all with a smaller number of components. For example, in the assembly 10, a support spring can be connected to a pair of face springs 16 at different points along the lengths of the springs 16 to vary the seating effect.

Furthermore, the assembly components of this invention can be compactly stored and shipped because the separated face and support springs require less space. The components are quickly assembled when it is most convenient and economical for the furniture manufacturer to create the spring assemblies 10, 10a, 1015, or 1%, and prior to such time the components consume a minimum of storage space. Each assembly is then quickly pronged into the frame rails 12 and 14 during the manufacture of a seating structure. A sufficient number of the assemblies 10 are mounted on the frame rails 12 and 14 to provide a spring platform consisting of side-by-side face springs 16. The border wire 28 is then attached by means of the clip 30 to the aligned connecting sections 24 in the assemblies 10. A similar number of assemblies 10b are employed, with the spacing between adjacent assemblies 10b being such that the Wire portions 74 in adjacent assemblies 1% are positioned side-by-side as shown in FIG. 5. The wire portions 72 in the connecting sections 24b in the spring assemblies 101) then constitute a continuous, but jointed border Wire, without requiring the addition of a special border wire such as the border wire 28 mounted on the assemblies 10.

The assembly 10c illustrates a support spring having a larger loop which effectively secures the support spring to a pair of points on each face spring which are spaced a considerable distance apart. The loops 40 can be formed of a similar size to engage the face springs 16 and 16b at similarly spaced points, and for most applications this increased spacing is preferred because it provides for a flexing of the face springs over increased portions of the lengths thereof.

It will be understood that the spring assemblies which are herein disclosed and described are presented for purposes of explanation and illustration and are not intended to indicate limits of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a wire spring assembly for seat structures which includes a pair of elongated face springs, an independent V-shape support spring for said face springs including a pair of angularly related legs, one of said legs including an angularly offset end portion engaged with said pair of face springs and coupled thereto between the ends thereof, the other one of said legs being extended from said one leg in a direction away from said pair of face springs in spaced relation therewith, said angularly offset end portion of said one leg effecting spacing of the apex of said V-shaped support spring from said pair of face springs, the improvement comprising positioning said angularly offset end portion so that it has a first section clampingly engaged with one of said face springs at two points spaced longitudinally of said face spring, said offset end portion having a second section clampingly engaged with the other one of said face springs at two points spaced longitudinally of said face spring, said sections being an integral part of said support spring.

2. In a wire spring assembly for seat structures which includes a pair of elongated face springs, an independent V-shape support spring for said face springs including a pair of angularly 'related legs, one of said legs including an angularly offset end portion engaged with said pair of face springs and coupled thereto between the ends thereof, the other one of said legs being extended from said one leg in a direction away from said pair of face springs in spaced relation therewith, said angularly offset end portion of said one leg effecting spacing of the apex of said V-shaped support spring from said pair of face springs, said angularly offset end portion being of generally loop shape, each of said face springs being formed intermediate the ends thereof with a transversely extending protrusion projected through said loop shape end portion so that each of said face springs is clampingly engaged at two points spaced longitudinally thereof with said loop shape end portion.

3. In a seating structure spring assembly, a pairof spaced side-by-side face springs having substantially parallel longitudinal axes, said face springs being formed intermediate the ends thereof with protrusions each of which includes a pair of torsion bars spaced apart in a direction longitudinally of said face spring, said protrusions being positioned so that they are in substantial alignment in a direction transverse to said axes and extend away from each other, a support spring for said face springs, said support spring being formed at one end with a loop positioned so that said protrusions are extended in opposite directions therethrough, said loop having portions engaged with opposite sides of each of said protrusion torsion bars so as to clamp said protrusions to said loop and mount said face springs on said support spring.

4. In a seating structure spring assembly, a pair of spaced side-by-side face springs having substantially parallellongitudinal axes, said face springs being formed intermediate the ends thereof with protrusions positioned so that they are in substantial alignment in a direction transverse to said axes and extend away from each other, each of said protrusions having portions spaced longitudinally of the face spring in which it is formed, a support spring for said face springs, said support spring being formed at one end with a loop of generally rectangular shape having a first pair of sides positioned in the same plane and second pair of sides positioned in a different plane offset from said first plane, said loop being positioned so that said protrusions are extended in opposite directions therethrough such that said first pair of loop sides are engaged with one side of each of said protrusion portions and said second pair of loop sides are engaged with the opposite side of each of said protrusion portions so as to clamp said protrusions to said loop and mount said face springs on said support spring. 7

5. In a wire spring assembly for seat structures which includes a pair of elongated side-by-side face springs formed from a single length of zigzag wire bent to form said face springs with an integral connecting section at one end, an independent V-shape support spring for said face springs including a pair of angularly related legs, one of said legs including an angularly offset end portion engaged with said pair of face springs and coupled thereto between the ends thereof, the other one of said legs being extended from said one leg in a direction away from said pair of face springs in spaced relation therewith, said coupling being effected by coacting loop and protrusion means extending therethrougb on said angularly offset end portion and said face springs providing for the clamping of two points spaced longitudinally of each of said face springs to said support spring end portion.

6. In a seating structure spring assembly, a first length of spring wire shaped to form a pair of spaced side-by-side face springs and an integral connecting section which constitutes the central section of said length of wire, the ends of said length of Wire forming mounting sections disposed at the opposite ends of said face springs, said face springs being formed intermediate the ends thereof With substantially aligned protrusions each of which is shaped so that it has a pair of substantially parallel portions which are spaced apart in a direction longitudinally of said face spring and extend transversely thereof, a second length of Wire shaped to form a support spring for said face springs, said second length of wine having the ends thereof shaped to form mounting sections located at one end of said support spring, an intermediate section of said second length of wire being looped about said face spring protrusions so that said intermediate section is clampingly attached to said protrusions so as to mount said face springs on said support spring.

7. A spring assembly comprising a first length of wire shaped to form a pair of spaced side-by-side longitudinally extending face springs and an integral connecting section which constitutes the central section of said length of wire, the ends of said length of wire forming mounting sections disposed at the opposite ends of said face springs, said face springs being formed intermediate the ends thereof with substantially aligned protrusions, a second length of wire shaped to form a support spring for said face springs, said second length of wire having the ends thereof shaped to form mounting sections located at one end of said support spring, an intermediate section of said second length of wire being looped about said face spring protrusions so that said intermediate section is clampingly attached to each of said protrusions at two points spaced longitudinally of said face springs so as to mount said face springs on said support spring.

8.-A spring assembly according to claim 7 in which said connecting section is stressed so that said face springs tend to diverge in a direction extending away from said connecting section so as to urge said face springs into firm engagement with said support spring intermediate section.

9. A spring assembly according to claim 7 in which a portion of said connecting section for said face springs is substantially straight and generally perpendicular to the direction in which said face springs extend, and a border wire attached to said straight portion.

10. A spring assembly according to claim 7 in which a portion of said connecting section is substantially straight and generally perpendicular to the direction in which said face springs extend, said straight portion being of length greater than the combined widths of said face springs and constituting a border wire section.

11. In a seating structure having vertically spaced upper and lower frame rails, a back spring assembly comprising a pair of upright horizontally spaced face springs formed of spring wire and connected at the upper ends thereof by an integral connecting section, said face springs being attached at the lower ends thereof to said lower rail, and an independent V-shape support spring for said face spring including a pair of angularly related legs, one of said legs including an angularly offsetloop shape end portion interfitted in clamping engagement with said pair of face springs between the ends thereof, the other one of said legs being extended from said one leg in a direction away from said pair of face springs and mounted on said upper frame rail.

12. In a wire spring assembly for seat structures which includes a pair of elongated face springs formed of spring wire, an independent V-shape support spring for said face springs including a pair of angularly related legs, one of said legs including an angularly offset end portion engaged with said pair of face springs and coupled thereto between the ends thereof, the other one of said legs being extended from said one leg in a direction away from said pair of face springs in spaced relation therewith, said angularly offset end portion of said one arm effecting spacing of the apex of said V-shaped support spring from said pair of face springs, said offset and portion being in the shape of a loop having a first pair of generally opposite coplanar sides and a second pair of generally opposite coplanar sides which are disposed in a plane offset from said first side a distance substantially equal to the diameter of said face spring wire, said face springs having oppositely directed protrusions extended through said loop in opposite directions so that said first pair of loop sides engage said face springs on one side thereof and said second pair of loop sides engage said face springs on the other side thereof so that said face strips are clamped to said support spring end portion.

13. In a wire spring assembly for seat structures which includes a pair of elongated face springs formed of spring wire, an independent V-shape support spring for said face springs formed from a single length of wire having a pair of ends, said support spring including a pair of .angularly related legs, one of said legs including an angularly offset end portion engaged with said pair of face springs and coupled thereto between the ends thereof, the other one of said legs being extended from said one leg in a direction away from said pair of face springs in spaced relation therewith and terminating at one of said pair of ends of said wire, said angularly offset end portion of said one arm effecting spacing of the apex of said V-shaped support spring from said pair of face springs, said oflset end portion being in the shape of a loop having a first pair of generally opposite coplanar sides and a second pair of generally opposite coplanar sides which are disposed in a plane offset from said first side a distance substantially equal to the diameter of said face spring wire, the other one of said pair of ends of said wire being shaped to form a hook engaged with said one leg at the juncture thereof with said offset end portion to form said loop, said face springs having 0ppositely directed protrusions extended through said loop in opposite directions so that said first pair of loop sides engage said face springs on one side thereof and said second pair of loop sides engage said face springson the other side thereof so that said face strips are clamped to said support spring end portion.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 21,263 10/1939 Kaden 2671 X 2,773,543 12/ 1956 Sandor 267107 2,835,314 5/1958 Neely 267-107 X 2,849,057 8/1958 Neely 267l07 ARTHUR L. LA POINT, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A WIRE SPRING ASSEMBLY FOR SEAT STRUCTURES WHICH INCLUDES A PAIR OF ELONGATED FACE SPRINGS, AN INDEPENDENT V-SHAPE SUPPORT SPRING FOR SAID FACE SPRINGS INCLUDING A PAIR OF ANGULARLY RELATED LEGS, ONE OF SAID LEGS INCLUDING AN ANGULARLY OFFSET END PORTION ENGAGED WITH SAID PAIR OF FACE SPRINGS AND COUPLED THERETO BETWEEN THE ENDS THEREOF, THE OTHER ONE OF SAID LEGS BEING EXTENDED FROM SAID ONE LEG IN A DIRECTION AWAY FROM SAID PAIR OF FACE SPRINGS IN SPACED RELATION THEREWITH, SAID ANGULARLY OFFSET END PORTION OF SAID ONE LEG EFFECTING SPACING OF THE APEX OF SAID V-SHAPED SUPPORT SPRING FROM SAID PAIR OF FACE 